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The National Criminal Justice Honor Society

Join an Elite Community of Criminal Justice Professionals.

Boston University is proud to be recognized by the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma, for its academic excellence. It’s an honor for us, especially knowing that our membership translates into exclusive benefits for our MCJ students and graduates.

What are the benefits? Through our Alpha Phi Sigma membership, BU MCJ students are presented with special opportunities for awards, grants, and scholarships. Our students are also invited to participate in sponsored programs and national conferences, where they are afforded the chance to meet with some of the nation’s foremost criminal justice professionals. As an added benefit, membership in Alpha Phi Sigma satisfies a requirement for G-7 entrance into the United States government.

Who belongs to Alpha Phi Sigma? This elite community is comprised of some the nation’s brightest criminal justice minds. Members are united by unwavering ethical standards and a commitment to research and scholarship. The Alpha Phi Sigma’s mission is to promote the values of academic excellence, service, leadership, and unity among its members and in the community at large.

When did BU join? The Nu Mu chapter was chartered at Boston University in 2012 with the express purpose of recognizing scholarship, fostering community relations and partnerships, and advancing the field of social sciences, especially as it relates to crime and justice.

How can you become a member? Undergraduate and graduate students, including Juris Doctorate students, are inducted biannually. BU faculty members and professionals who have made a distinctive contribution are also eligible for membership. There is a one-time $50 membership fee that needs to be included with your application. Contact an Enrollment Advisor to learn about the application process and membership requirements. Become a BU MCJ student, and you’ll have the opportunity to become part of this professional cohort and join a vastly expanding network with access to incredible resources. Together, Alpha Phi Sigma members are a force for change in communities around the world.

About Alpha Phi SigmaOriginally founded at Washington State University in 1942, Alpha Phi Sigma is the only criminal justice honor society to be certified as a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and affiliated with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. In 1976, Alpha Phi Sigma was designated as the National Criminal Justice Honor Society by the Executive Board of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. At the time, Alpha Phi Sigma had just 14 chapters – a far cry from the 360-plus that comprise the honor society today.